
According to the Paragraphs report, “the view that the Chechen land is ‘occupied’ by Russia today is shared by the overwhelming majority of the population. The occupation in their view is expressed not only in historical events but also in the current policy of Russia in Chechnya.”Russia “has been destroying us for centuries: wars, deportation, more wars. And even now, [the Russians] have created in Chechnya an imitation of peace and calm but in fact they are killing and oppressing us.” Many can’t hold out and are fleeing to Europe.
Corruption and repression are high, and “the Kremlin closes its eyes” to this in order to avoid a new outburst of Chechen militancy. Kadyrov does have supporters and there are “not a few of them.” They form the basis of his power and largely consist of his relatives and people from his native village. “Kadyrov,” people say, “wins their loyalty and devotion by allowing them to enrich themselves and enjoy unlimited power.”Thanks to the Kremlin, there is in Chechnya “the dictatorship of Kadyrov,” people say. The laws of Russia don’t operate nor do the centuries-old customs of the Chechens. Everyone has to “live according to Kadyrov’s rules.”

“Of course,” the portal concludes, “today nothing threatens them, but the Chechen people lives with the understanding and the expectation that Chechnya will again become a sovereign state and then all the traitors will be held to account.”But an even clearer indication of how Chechens feel about Moscow is to be found in the fact that Chechens, forced by Moscow to take part in Russia’s wars against Georgia and Ukraine “conceal” this from other Chechens because “they fear popular anger.”
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